Pink dolphins of the Amazon – Part 1

Pink dolphins of the Amazon – Part 1

The Rio Negro’s Amazons

July 2009

Local Amazonian lady dancing to welcome

The source of the Rio Negro (Black River) in Colombia, continuing its journey to Brazil, through the rich Amazonian forest. Here it converges with the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon. From afar, the Rio Negro appears to be black but from a closer look, it is actually dark brown. This dark color is due to the humic acid which forms due to the incomplete decomposition of the phenol contained in the vegetation of the sandy clearings.

Both rivers, the Rio Negro and the Solimões, meet south of Manaus, the capital of the Amazon. The Solimões source begins in Peru. Its waters are clearer (beige in color), and it is filled with sediment. The meeting point of the two rivers is a most impressive sight, as they do not blend together. They continue to run alongside one another for approximately forty kilometers (25 miles) before finally mixing.

This can be compared to a glass filled partially with water and partially with oil. They simply do not blend.

More surprisingly is that the fish species living in the respective rivers do not cross over onto the other side; they stop at the border.

The meeting of the waters south of Manaus, Amazonas

Jumping into the Rio Negro’s warm waters

Navigation on the Rio Negro

This phenomenon, whereby the waters do not mix is due to several factors: a difference in pH (potential Hydrogen) levels. The Rio Solimoes is basic, whereas the Rio Negro is acidic in nature. Large temperature differences, ranging from 28o to 35oC (82-95oF)in the Rio Negro River and a much cooler Rio Solimoes with temperatures ranging from 20 to 22oC (68-72oF). The last significant difference is in the speed with which the rivers run. The Amazon is flowing at a speed of 8 km/hr (5 miles/hour) and the Rio Negro at 3 km/hr (1.9 mile/hour).

Inia geoffrensis

Inia geoffrensis or more commonly known as the pink dolphins, nicknamed locally as ‘Boto’, reside in the waters of the Rio Negro. Although still poorly known, this species is considered the most intelligent of the five species of freshwater dolphins. This dolphin has a melon‑shaped skull, a thick and elongated back, a crest instead of the dorsal fin, disproportionately large ventral fins and tail, all of which making it less refined than the common dolphin. Yet when you see its agility and wild grace, it makes you think of the legendary Amazons.

Pink dolphins hunting in the Rio Negro

Majestic pink boto

Boto’s crest and amazing neck flexibility

Pink dolphin’s spine flexibility

The pink dolphin’s flexibility is unique; its spine allows it to perform impossible contortions compared to other dolphins. Thanks to its flexible neck, it can turn its head at 180°C. The dolphin’s sight is quite keen, despite its small eyes. Its very sharp high-frequency communication system allows it to move into the Rio Negro’s dark waters and detect its prey. Like for all dolphins, sound waves are emitted through the larynx, albeit the pink dolphins sound waves are amplified by the mass of fatty tissue found in its voluminous melon-shaped head. If some of the sounds it makes can be heard by humans, most are inaudible due to their high frequency.

During an expedition to the Amazon in 1982, The Cousteau Society studied the pink dolphin. Unable to isolate the animal in a pool, they had difficulty in analyzing its behavior.

The pink dolphin lives peacefully alongside another species, the Sotalia fluviatlis, or gray dolphin. It has no natural predators, except man, and is a dreaded hunter. Piranhas fear it because it feeds on them, as do the “Pirarucu”, the famous giant fish, and the Cayman. It feeds on catfish, various crustaceans, and other fish.

Red belly piranhas

Caiman diving fastly at night in the Rio Negro

Feeding the pink dolphins

The pink dolphin lives in the Amazon basin. It can be found all the way up to Ecuador and Peru, where it is called “Bufeo colorado” (colored dolphin). It can also be found in the Orinoco basin, where the Rio Negro source starts (Colombia, Venezuela). You may often see it in areas where there is a great concentration of fish or where the rivers converge. I was fortunate to see the dolphins in the Rio Negro, near the Ariau lodge, 60km from Manaus. There is a place where they frequently visit and from which they can be observed. If you are lucky enough, you can even get near and swim with them.

This is a unique experience. It is impressive to see these huge of 2.5 to 3 meter long animals come out of the dark and move with amazing agility, especially when hunting. They are so fast in the water, making it difficult for the photographers to immortalize them.

The origin of its color is not clear; it could be caused by the capillaries under its skin. Some of the boto’s can also be are pale blue and even albino.

Mythology

The Pink Dolphin is very active in the local mythology; some Indian tribes of the Amazon worship it while others think of it as the devil and hunt it. The gray dolphin is usually considered as sacred. A traditional myth of the Amazon tells us that the pink dolphins emerge out of the water come nightfall and transform into handsome young men and seduce the young women. They then resume their original shape and return to the River early in the morning.

Young smiling girl in a local village

Kids dancing in a local village

Endangered species

A mere 20 years ago, the species was not threatened by extinction. However, its population is decreasing significantly due to intensive fishing, deforestation, forest fires, destruction of the habitat (dams, agriculture, construction), the extermination by fishermen angry because of destroyed fishing nets, river pollution due to raised mercury levels, fishing methods using explosives and overpopulation.

To date, no one knows exactly how many specimens still exist, but the dolphins of the Amazon are definitely important for the regional ecosystem. It is mandatory that we look after them because of their vital position at the heart of the planet’s lung.

Fishermen at work on the Rio Negro with pink dolphins in the backgrouund